Leather Detailing - A Short Course

[Escalantenewyork]

Did anyone notice the epic music?

[leszek19213]

Pięknie...

[MsRobi1969]

extra bravo!!!

[MrMichehl]

Wow ... Super ! ! !

[itachi12789]

Can you do this with faux leather?

[BilleF]

@itachi12789 Not with any faux leather I've seen. Leather really does have some unique properties under the surface. While it's one thing to fake the general appearance, faking the properties is a whole different game.

[DToneQuest]

thanks!

[booboorocky]

What an artist. I throughly enjoyed watching you work.

[huyquyenph]

I would like to learn this  :D

[airamsenun]

FABULOSO, APAIXONANTE .... VOU TENTAR !!!

PARABÉNS !!!

ABÇS

[hazregalos]

I wonder how much time take to do this...?, amazing!!!

[BilleF]

@hazregalos Well, in this case, it took about a half hour, but that's backed by 40 years of daily practice.

[zoomhaters]

...pretty.

[Jatewolf]

can you mold the leather and then carve it?

[BilleF]

@Jatewolf No can do. The leather is generally too hard after molding, and anything other than a flat shape would make carving more difficult. If you carve first, and then mold, it's still quite a challenge to avoid distorting or damaging the carving. We don't do much molding, but I would suggest you start with a carving that doesn't have too much detail, and will still look good even if flattened a bit or distorted. Then go from there... good old trial and error. You can be a pioneer!

[1stAirWolf]

this video reminds everyone that there is always more to learn and learning is always a beautiful adventure. Thanks for the video.

[bandgeekak87]

I have a whole new appreciation for the leather details on my saddles. I knew a lot of work went into them, but this is just crazy! :o

[Glaswalker1001]

nice vid but you shoud talk a little bit and explain how it´s done. That would be great and would make understanding a lot easier

[TheHillbillyE]

This is incredible, but, contrary to what you said at the beginning, it looks like it takes quite a bit of drawing skills.

[BilleF]

@TheHillbillyE The narration at the start was a casualty of YouTube cracking down on soundtracks. But, still... you start with a template - one copied from somewhere. There's your drawing. Trace it onto the leather with a stylus, and off you go. Keep the drawing as a reference for details. You really do not need significant drawing skills if you just copy. The real difficulty is in learning to use the swivel knife well. That takes practice, but you can always start simple.

[BilleF]

You can just copy the drawing from a book, using tracing paper. Nothing to that really. The real challenge is in using the swivel knife well. That takes some practice. Start simple, copy any drawings you need, or get someone to make a sketch for you.

[MonakoSM]

Anyone can do this my ass, SIMPLE tools....SIMPLE TOOLS? I've never seen a tool like that before in my life.

Anyhow mind giving me some tips where I'm gonna be able to find these simple tools?

[BilleF]

@MonakoSM The usual place is Tandy. The prices are reasonable, and they have a good selection. As you get better and know what tools you depend on, you can get specialty made tools from the US, Europe and Japan. All on the web.

[maritimemoose]

@BilleF tandy has a huge sale on starting kits, the tools in it alone is worth the price : )

[kygal41501]

some people have the abilities to do these kinds of things, i personally do metalsmithing, i could never do this, this guy needs to stop being so modest and say "not everyone can do this like i can" haha

[alicatsf]

@kygal41501 but he has probably done the same pattern 50 times before.

[BilleF]

@alicatsf He's been doing this for half a century, so yeah, he's probably done every common pattern at least 50 times. But everybody has to start at the first step if they want to get anywhere. If you enjoy what you are doing, it won't seem like such a tiresome journey.

[jbyrne1138]

You make it look so easy, and yet everyone's comments have me scared! I'm doing my first big project in leather (I'm an armorer who normally works in chain and plate) and have a fairly simple design to tool into part of the piece, but I'm having serious performance anxiety. Going to need some practice, I guess. One question, though: how well will a tooled design hold up to the whole piece being soaked and shaped to a form? I figure it'd be easier to tool it while it's flat and then shape it.

[BilleF]

@jbyrne1138 If you harden and mold the leather it's going to be tough on the carving. That depends on a lot of factors, though. If you're doing a simple design, and it's large, that's a good place to start. Any distortion will have minimal effect on a larger and simple carving. From that point, you can work towards more detail as your carving improves and at the same time you learn by experience how to minimize the distortion. Start big and simple and give it a try. Good luck.

[Anonymousniper12]

@jbyrne1138 im 13 i love it you need tips i can help and you should cut it first dampen the leather then stamp cut exc. then but befor you do that you need to contact cement the piece to a piece of carboard"so it wont strech" dampen then stamp all of this should be done before the cement dries then just remove the cardboard

[camran07hawlery]

Beautiful

[miltonSF]

you rub a sponge first, is that water?? how long you did it to get the leather damp enough?

[BilleF]

@miltonSF Just rub it with a sponge until it's damp - a few seconds usually.

[angelamariapreuss]

You all are very funny and generous with each other. I am a seamstress recently asked to work with leather to make a bag. After much trial and error, I am still in the trial and error stage. However this video was a great break and something to look forward to doing. I get bored easily and need out lets other than sewing. There is nothing classier or more beautiful or long lasting than leather. I love this!

[JacobCain86]

beautiful.

[tflores1581]

That's cool

[mmanta23]

thanks! gonna give it a try.

[papacc]

有難う御座います。大変勉強に成りました。

[dabidosan]

Here's probably another stupid question for you but.....would it even be possible to 'tool' a leather jacket.....or can I assume that the leather in this case would be 'too soft', and would only get destroyed? Thanks for the video, though!

[BilleF]

@dabidosan Do not try to tool a leather jacket. Instead make leather patches for the sleeves, shoulders, breast or back with tooling leather. Tool those patches then attach them with a commercial sewing machine. Since we can assume you don’t have a heavy-duty sewing machine parked somewhere in your workroom you will have to search out a shop that can sew the patches on.JIM

[BilleF]

@dabidosan You're right about that - you'd be out one leather jacket. You could, however, tool a patch of leather and then attach that onto an existing leather jacket, if you could find an attractive way to do it.

[silumantai]

whre can i buy the tools u used?

[SquabTheBlob]

you make this look very easy.I am sure you are very skilled and this is extremely difficult work.Very good instructional video.Congratulations.And good soft music.

[wasimsworld]

very talented

[missusdad]

What is the website at the end of this video?

[Arcum11]

I love the way you carve lether ! it looks so easy,but I guees it is not !!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Is it posibble for you to tell me who plays the song you use and how is it call? thanks!!!! and please keep teaching us. geos.

[BilleF]

@Arcum11 Thanks much and it was a real team effort. The music. Enya – Irish music!

[oddcarl1]

Is there anything you can treat the leather with, before, or after tooling to make it a more resistant to the elements?

[BilleF]

@oddcarl1 Yes! There are lacquer spray coats for leather after it’s finished. There are also other wipe-on coatings which will help protect it. JIM

[questionmarks09]

I know this may be something of a stupid question, but you do do the carving after you've dampened the leather right? Like just after a light sponging as you've done here right?

[BilleF]

@questionmarks09 Not stupid. Very reasonable and often asked by newbies. Usually we sponge clean water on both sides of the leather evenly. Let it set a couple of minutes before starting. When I started, I used to case (sponge with water) the leather, wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator overnight. The amount of water and just how wet the leather should be is something you will have to learn on your own. Weather, humidity, and room temperature all play a role. Good luck!JIM

[toaturner1988]

Gorgeous design and you make it look so easy too. I guess it's time for me to get some scrap leather out and practice. If I run into trouble, I'll definitely post another comment since you seem to be excellent at this. Great video.

[BilleF]

@toaturner1988 Great! Even after you start projects keep practicing. Before doing a project pinpoint the difficult parts and practice on scrap. Like most things it’s not how long you have been doing something that measures your ability, it’s how much you do. When I started I cut projects for a company just to get the cutting part down. Did more cutting in one night than the usual hobbyist does in a couple of years. You can do it! JIM

[nalgaslaper]

I just learned a how to truly appreciate an artists work. Someone might make the exact same piece just a little different and that difference is what makes the artist work his.

[AliGhanizad]

i want something like this on my TUMI wallet.

[xirulx]

A true artist.

[Round8675]

He does make it look easy, but it takes alot of trial and error to even come light years from this! Good video!

[Azzutrix]

(Beautiful work) but if you do not mind friend. It is annoying but excuse me, what is the title of the song you put on your beautiful video? I say spent years looking for this genre would greatly appreciate it.

[Wizzad75]

@Azzutrix Enya...Flora's Secret truly a badass song indeed.

[androshi]

that was a great video! tell me -could i use this type of leather for bookbinding?

i love bookbinding but i never took it this far-could we use this type of leather and then glue it to boo board?

5 stars!

[BilleF]

@androshi No problem. We’ve done menus and wine lists for hotels and restaurants. By the way you may want to take some samples to a classy place and do a little marketing as a side project. JIM

[JTubella]

I want to start leather working as a hobby and i would like my first project to be a cover for My precious Nook eReader. Can anyone gimme any tips on what type of leather to use that is soft enough to be able to fold easily (just the spine area so i can fold the cover backwards) but stiff enough to make a design?? The case is suppose to look like a book cover by the way. Thanks in advance

[BilleF]

@JTubella You will have to get into leathercraft to pick up these little details. Skiving the leather where you want it to bend will thin that portion of the leather and help it bend. JIM

[Zundwig]

Unreal!!! Great work.

[RonRay]

When I first started watching this, I thought... "Yeah, I can do this to a knife sheath I've got". Then about half way through, I thought... "Yeah, and when I'm through, I'll stop by the Sistine Chapel and see if it needs another coat of paint"! O.o

To you, this may be easy and these may be "simple tools"... about like Leonardo's brushes were 'simple tools' to him.

Dude! You're an amazing artist! "WE" could practice for years and not be able to do this!

It was pretty to watch, though...

[BilleF]

@RonRay LOL!–Sistine Chapel. Seriously, don’t sell yourself short. It can be done. You can just copy the floral patterns but the key to the final design is the swivel knife. Keep practicing with that daily on scrap leather and in a year you will be qualified to turn out stuff for gifts or even sale. JIM

[evilbull55]

great vid. Thanks. You make it look easy.

[grethomory]

I used to be an Occupational Therapist and we had to do this in college

[graycloud057]

Nice video. Tandy Leather Factory is the store for leather working. When purchasing tools, get the best, you'll never be sorry you did. Tandy also has very good classes.

[MittanyGirl]

what are you wiping on the leather before you start to trace it?

[Livingnthewoods41]

@MittanyGirl He's dampening the leather, its called "casing the leather" it stamps MUCH easier when moist.

[kanamoon]

@Livingnthewoods41 Do you have to keep dampening every now and then as you carve into the leather? It's bound to get drier after a while.

[Livingnthewoods41]

@kanamoon Yes, I keep a small sponge and some water to dampen it as it dries out, be careful not to get it too wet.

[rexanater]

Just tried my first try at tooling yesterday. This video makes it look much easier than it is. The beveling tool seems to give me the most trouble. Practice, practice and practice some more I guess.

[BilleF]

@rexanater Remember it is called STAMPING for a reason. Hold the tool loosely and hit with the mallet at a steady pace. The tool will bounce like a stamp which you can see if you play a video in slow motion. JIM

[rexanater]

Just got my first leather working kit. My goal is to customize solid body electric guitars (in the spirit of Waylon Jennings). Hope I can do beautiful work like that.

[andrakos1]

Hermoso , eres un gran artista . Un saludo desde Chile

[awhattheheck]

simple, doesn't take allot work, easy.... ya right ! your skilled just admit it.

[amadeusis]

Yes, where online I could ordere these kind of tools - what are they called etc...

[Livingnthewoods41]

@amadeusis Tandy leather factory

[soccerlady2]

Can you use the part of the leather that you carved and make it a leatherbound journal cover?

[fst3v0]

watching you do that was like watching a picture come out of an inkjet printer... i must learn this skill to quench my envy. That was awesome

[HaTe616]

Stunning :)

[destello81]

orale que bonito todo un trabajo artistico

[louvebleue]

It's beautiful! Your work is amazing.

The music is also beautiful, could you give me its name please?

[madchen11]

WOW!!! Great!!

[planetdarwin]

Do you wet the top of the leather, or the bottom, or both? It seems like when I stamp the leather, the stamped part gets lighter rather than darker, which is the reverse of what I see in your vid. Also, when my leather gets even slightly wet on top, it darkens. Are you supposed to wet the underside? I'm completely new to it so I'm really ignorant, but I am good at drawing and wood carving & would like to try this. :)

[planetdarwin]

Quick, great quality, and helpful. Thanks!

[cesarjuniorcoke]

Gorgeous! Where have you learned it? Where can I find and what the name of the tools?

[BilleF]

Thanks. The tools are Japanese, and quite nice. I hope we can put together a package to sell on in the future.

[vzlangel]

where do you buy the leather?

[LADYHAYASTAN]

WOW! Gorgeous

[latourrentelle]

Vraiment Super, where can we find this pattern to try it

la Tourrentelle, French Medieval Company (French Riviera)

[stitchtheline]

hey i am a newbee to all this , can anyone tell me where can i buy thses tools?? please help. Thank you everyone.

[creatornat]

First, you will want to go to the Tandy website( tandyleatherfactory(dot)com ). There are sets of tools that have what was shown here in packs of 7. Try ebay too for good deals, and google leather craft tutorials for extra help. :)

[rexanater]

@stitchtheline google the Tandy Leather Company's website. They have everything you need and may have a store near you.

[oasisdreams]

@stitchtheline look up Tandy Leather on the internet. They have everything. Kinda late but this may help if you haven't found what you are looking for.

[BassmasterD]

@stitchtheline

The Tandy Leather Factory, they got EVERYTHING!! I need to stop spending so much there

[Anonymousniper12]

@stitchtheline go to tandyleatherfactory"dot"com its a good website

[anticstone]

super! bravo

a french mediaval company

[mikebe41]

ahhhhhhhhhh to be so gifted, to create this ART!

[redrocco44]

Very enjoyable to see your work and a great choice of music.

[gswiaczny]

I'm making some projects in leather (bags, belts, pouches, bracers etc.). I can burn patterns really well, but with tooling i've got a little bit problem... You're using water or something else? Why does you leather is turning a little bit darker (brown) in stamped place (my leather isn't... :( )? Answer me asap, please. Best regards, Greg

[BilleF]

Just water:)

[tonytre111]

@gswiaczny Case the leather with water. Hard to teach. must be damp not soggy. If to dry, hard on tools and must be hit harder to create the effects desired. too wet and u can go right thro the leather or just flatten it out without creating the look you wanted. Experance is the best teacher, Try this in Az its a bit dry so I apply water with a driping sponge over complete project unti lwell darkend on grain side never flesh side. The wait 5 to 7 min to it lightens. when drys to lite tan redo

[gswiaczny]

@tonytre111

Thank you. :)

[pulquedelmejor]

sweet .. that was fun to watch... thanks

[sibco96]

Thanks for posting this. Reminds me of the Tandy Leather projects I tried as a kid. I wasn't patient or talented enough back then, but maybe now, with some effort, I could do something good.

[lordronin593]

wow, this is great.. very inspirational, thanks for sharing this! Hope I can put it into practice soon. Keep making the world more beautiful with great artwork! :)

[sdime59]

this is a very stupid question but if i mount snake skin on the kind of leather that your working on,will it work???? will it break the skin or will it even stay like that

[BilleF]

Don't do that! This is meant for heavier leathers. You'll just rip up something like snakeskin.

[dmkk90046]

thank you so much for sharing your talents! i learned a lot about the various tools you used, as well as the need for a steady hand. i talked about this link on my blog (signofthemonkey.blogspot) thank you!

[andy0902]

Thats really something else!

[Raibaru]

This is beautiful! I'm planning leather craft as a hobby, and this vid was great inspiration. My compliments, Sir!

And the Enya song is called "Flora's Secret".

[drakoncuka]

How can you get lether to be crafted like a butter? you only get the leather soaked with water?

[tabootosh]

you make it look so easy, lol, i wish i had some of that talent

[gazeebo88]

Also... now I have to buy a ton of leatherworking tools hehe

[gazeebo88]

I am in the process of making a mask ( waiting for my leather at this point ) and have a question. Can I add details to the leather and then boil it to have it harden up? Or will boiling get rid of all the details.

[BilleF]

I wouldn't boil it after carving. When in doubt, always try something on a small patch of test leather first.

[tonytre111]

@gazeebo88 I wet mold all the time for things like phone cases. never needed it boiled. Warm might help. Boiled.. I would not want to try it but mostly due to knowing i can mold leather without boiling it.

[kmsbell]

WOW! i learned more form this video than the last 20 i've watched from other people. action not words, i like that! thank you, and wonderfull job!

[brownlog86]

this is almost as awesome as enya- your bad ass man! I just had my wallet stolen last night, It was tooled leather as well... I was reminicing our good times together by watching this vid. You have eased some of my pain- thank you.

[filberths]

This looks cool. But I see some other leather crafts here. Maybe its another choice?

[sdime59]

nice work this some really nice craftmanship you make it look so easy....hope this art dont die,with all the computer/chinese made stuff...where can i buy this tools tho

[BilleF]

Appreciate the comments. A bunch more videos are coming, as fast as we can edit them - and you know how fast video editing goes...

Citizen Kane is right...you can't just do this with any leather. Vegetable tanned and thick. Not too hard to come by though.

So far as book-binding, do the detailing first.

Sorry, I'll have to ask Jim which Enya song that was. It is Enya, though!

[CorpusHermeticum]

A question for anyone- I would like to try my hand at bookbinding in leather. Should the detailing be done before or after binding???  thanx

[CitizenKate]

The best leather for tooling is vegetable or oak tanned leather. Lots of places to purchase it: Tandy, Springfield leather, Wickett & Craig, or Siegel of California.

[CarpeGimli]

Just beautiful! I just have one question; what type of leather is best for tooling or can I just use any piece that I get at my fabric warehouse?

[OregonBackpacker]

hay man u need to keep theese wounderfull vids comming

[animetay1]

Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks so much for showing us the process.

[ArkaneOmega]

Sorry man but I teared up at this video, the beauty that is being crafted into that leather and the music fits just as beautifully for the montage.

Manly tears.......

[shlappy1]

is there a place in victoria i can buy the tools?

[ana8lu]

awesome! 5*

[rotoclip]

what's the name of the song enya's singing,ps beautiful work

[natashafortwis]

that is whats up !!! good work

[Fae1422]

i dont know anything about leather are you tappin or hammering or burning the design in?

[tinrorobot]

He's hammering it in with a raw hide mallet - this video has me interested in trying leather tooling :)

[garouHH]

How do you transfer an image onto leather in the first place? Where could I get patterns? And how much practice did it take to become that good?

[BilleF]

You can see a bit of this on the leathercraftstudio video. It's a variation of tracing, so while you can buy patterns, it's almost as easy to photocopy something unique and do it yourself.

So far as practice, it took Tony about 40 years to get this good. But that depends on your own skills and your desire. He has picked up a lot of tricks along the way.

[jdpphoto]

Can you do a video on how to set a rivet or snap??

[BilleF]

Before the end of the year, I hope! Stay tuned.

[GeishaCat]

wow this really is a very helpful video. i love working with leather but my tooling is terrible. i know this video will help me improve. thank you for putting it up! :)

[deadlynightshade21]

Wow, I've been leatherworking for a few years now and this helped a lot with knowing more about what tools do what!

[FilmerOfBobcats]

The detail is amazing! I see in tiny print at the end a 30 min video is available? What was the URL? I couldn't quite see it. I love your work and would like to learn more.

[ENJ0LI]

very useful. good video!

[amc51]

Fantástico...!

[UKFP78956]

beautifull patern!

[decoralias]

Your work is amazing, congratulations.

[willzville1988]

WOW WOW WOW! I never knew that kinda stuff could be done with so much handicraft. V. Impressive man!

[satanpoland]

o.O have no words to describe it... it's just... amazing!

[cornmutha]

the russet leather used can be molded without leather tools. i carve completely free hand, it looks more like wood carving

[cornmutha]

the russet leather used can be molded without the leather tools, i carve completely free hand & it looks more like wood carving

[supercheekykiwi]

Although I dint have any sound on I could tell here is an expert. im attempting this kind of thing myself and the video helped a lot. There isnt many places to learn

[Joshxalot]

Cool design.

[3113butch]

I thought leathercraft was just cheap belts, saddles and only western. Now I understand the detail and some of the tools used. Great! I'm not artistic since I see you can just trace other designs I guess I can get away with creating something by borrowing and I can use the same design for different things.

[masterofskills]

what did he teach us